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How to Fix Up Your Car's Interior on the Cheap

John Oates from Hall & Oates (private eyes... they're watching you) once owned this 1986 Saab 900 Turbo, but you wouldn't know it was a rock star's car from the dingy state of the interior. PM Automotive Editor Larry Webster, who bought the Saab and rehabilitated its insides, shows you how to do it—and how much you could save compared to hiring a pro.

John Oates from Hall & Oates (private eyes... they're watching you) once owned this 1986 Saab 900 Turbo, but you wouldn't know it was a rock star's car from the dingy state of the interior. PM Automotive Editor Larry Webster, who bought the Saab and rehabilitated its insides, shows you how to do it—and how much you could save compared to hiring a pro.

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1How to Fix Up Your Car's Interior on the Cheap

Brian Kelly

The beauty of a $2000 car is that unless you blow it up, its value is pretty much fixed. You're free to experiment and learn. Take, for example, this 1986 Saab 900 Turbo—a winter beater destined to endure Michigan's salty winters while my primary car hibernates. On a scale of 1 to 10, the Saab's interior scored a —5. With a meager makeover budget, I combed craft stores, hobby shops, and auto parts depots to find materials for dirt-cheap repairs.

2Seats

Brian Kelly

PRO:$50—$200 / DIY:$15

BEFORE

The Saab's torn seat hurt my eyes just to look at it, but the thought of draping a cheap, ill-fitting seat cover over it hurt even more. Higher-quality, fitted ones were simply out of my price range. But a trip to a craft store revealed another option.

AFTER

For $7 I bought a curved upholstery needle and high-strength thread. I was planning to sew in a contrasting-color patch, but I was able to stretch the fabric and cover the hole. I finished by applying fabric cleaner with a terry-cloth rag.

3Floor Console

Brian Kelly

PRO:$300—$500 / DIY:$45

BEFORE

Most of the Saab's switches—including the ignition—reside between the seats, where they often get fouled by spilled drinks. The previous owner had wired in a toggle switch to cycle the starter but had done a sloppy job. Also, the sleeves that cover the seatbelt latches were frayed.

AFTER

A new ignition module is $250, so instead, I wired up a new toggle starter switch ($12). Used window switches cost just 20 bucks, and I covered the seatbelt cables with heater hose, a $2 fix. Then I lightly sanded and painted the plastic with black trim spray paint.

4Door Panel

Brian Kelly

PRO: $50—$100 / DIY: $12

BEFORE

Funny side note: My Saab was originally owned by John Oates from Hall & Oates ("private eyes, they're watching you ..."). As befitting a rock star's car, the $19,895 (about 33 grand today) 900 had luxury touches like velour door skins. But over time the foam backing deteriorated, leaving the material hanging and limp.

AFTER

At a fabric store I found corduroy the same hue as the original velour. I pulled off the panels, scraped off any residual foam, and then glued on the new material with 3M spray adhesive. It's simple: Coat both the fabric and panel, let the glue dry, and then join the two while smoothing with a credit card.

5Carpet

Brian Kelly

PRO:$125 / DIY:$25

BEFORE

The driver's footwell collects all sorts of foreign material that's best not thought about. Cleaning it, however, made a marked improvement in overall perception.

AFTER

Liquid carpet cleaner and a stiff nylon brush loosened the dirt. I wiped up the excess liquid with a rag, then went at it with a shop vac. For a filthy carpet, repeat the process multiple times, then leave the car in a warm spot to fully dry. A rented steam vacuum can be useful to soak up the released grime. Don't forget to wipe the pedals.

6Center Console

Brian Kelly

PRO: $100 / DIY: $35

BEFORE

This rat's nest of wires once terminated in an acoustic equalizer. Remember when those were popular? There was also a dangling toggle switch that I learned operated the power antenna. The lower cubby was soaked with a dried, sticky mystery liquid.

AFTER

A $5 piece of -inch-thick plastic made a handy switch panel. I secured it to an old radio chassis with sheet-metal screws. Down below, scrubbing and painting didn't improve the cubby. But a glued-in piece of drawer liner did.

7Bonus Budget DIY Tips

10cuidados

TIP 1: Pump up the Jambs

The area where the door connects to the body is frequently forgotten, so give it a wipe; you see that junction every time you get into the car. While you're there, lubricate the hinges with white lithium grease.

TIP 2: Spray the Rag

Whenever you're using a cleaning product on fabric or plastic, don't apply it directly to the surface. Instead, coat the rag first and then wipe; otherwise, concentrated cleaner could discolor the material.

TIP 3: Lube the Seat Tracks

Few things can make a car feel fresher than seats that effortlessly glide in their tracks. Move the seat all the way forward, dig the old grease from the tracks, and carefully reapply fresh lubricant.

TIP 4: Get Cozy with Junkyards

Before we dig into any used-car project, we always visit the local salvage yards to see what's available. And don't forget Craigslist—that's where we found the window switches.

TIP 5: Hide that Cracked Dash

Besides sourcing a replacement (see Tip 4), there aren't many options to fix a sun-cracked dash. Our favorite work-around: imitation suede fabric cut to fit and secured to the dash top with Velcro.

TIP 6: Craft Free Floor Mats

Carpet remnants make terrific mats. Trim to fit, making sure the mat doesn't touch the pedals. It's also a good idea to zip-tie the carpet to the seat frame.

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